Jerusalem (CNN)The Israeli government has dropped some of the most controversial rules in a draft ordinance controlling how foreigners can enter and stay in the occupied West Bank.
A draft of the rules was published in February and received harsh public backlash as well as legal challenges which forced a delay to their implementation.
One of the most controversial rules would have required foreign passport holders entering a formal relationship with a Palestinian living in the West Bank to notify Israeli authorities within 30 days of their engagement, wedding, or moving-in together. Another regulation in the draft placed quotas on the number foreign academics -- lecturers and students -- permitted each year.
But those regulations have been removed from the official guidance published on Sunday. The rules are currently set to take effect on October 20.
Israel says the new ordinance is meant to codify norms already in place.
The document also states that the new regulations will be part of a "two-year pilot period" after which "the situation will be evaluated and a decision will be made regarding whether to keep the procedure in force."
An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity to speak more freely, told CNN the reason Israel wanted foreigners to declare romantic relations with West Bank Palestinians was to simplify visitors' visa process. The official said as an example, a student with a foreign passport who fell in love with a Palestinian could -- instead of needing to renew their student visa every year -- just register as a couple and receive the equivalent of a spousal visa.
But Palestinians and human rights groups said the rules were a further tamping down on the basic rights of Palestinians in the West Bank -- while such rules would not have applied to Israeli settlements in the West Bank that are governed by Israeli civilian law.
Much of the international community, including the United States, considers the West Bank to be occupied territory since Israel took control of the area following the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Israel controls all movement in and out of the territory.
The draft guidelines published in February were challenged in the Israeli Supreme Court by human rights groups and individuals.
In a statement, US Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides said the Embassy had been "aggressively engaged" with the Israeli government since the draft rules were published in February.
"I continue to have concerns with the published protocols, particularly regarding COGAT's role in determining whether individuals invited by Palestinian academic institutions are qualified to enter the West Bank, and the potential negative impact on family unity," Nides said. "It is important to ensure all of these regulations are developed in coordination with key stakeholders, including the Palestinian Authority.
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